NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

Tangle

Isaac Saul

Independent, non-partisan politics news where you'll hear the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day. Plus, fascinating interviews with people in the political world. Check out our newsletter: https://www.readtangle.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Play

Open in

38 episodes
Avg 33 min
English

Episodes 38

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Friday · 10 min
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - The case for the Democratic Socialists of America.
One of the core tenets of Tangle’s mission is ideological diversity. As a big-tent news organization, we believe that we can be a space for readers of all political backgrounds to hear arguments from across the political spectrum. As I look around today’s media landscape, something occurs to me: It’s becoming a hobbyhorse of political commentators to beat up on the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Both moderate Democrats and Republicans attack it constantly, as do independents. And in my own writing, I’ve overtly criticized the DSA. Indeed, it’s hard to find writers unapologetically defending DSA — especially in the mainstream press. So, in late July, I put out a call on social media for a writer who would pen a piece for Tangle that was different — for a writer who would make the case for the DSA, its platform, and its record. A few hours later, Ross Barkan shot me a direct message. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! “Am I the idiot?” For this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Kmele defends his position on AI deregulation as Ari channels some reader criticisms to him. Then, Isaac asks, “Am I the idiot?” over one of his recent takes and reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent return to the Senate, before Kmele gives a touching tribute to the passing of a literary giant. Check it out here. Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here. We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice: Instagram Podcast YouTube You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ross Barkan and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thursday · 29 min
The EPA’s power plant deregulation.
On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the repeal of Biden-era emissions regulations for power plants and proposed rolling back all remaining greenhouse gas standards for the power sector. The agency said the move will create an estimated $310 billion in savings and lower energy prices for consumers. On Thursday, environmental advocates sued the EPA for this week’s power plant deregulatory actions. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! “Am I the idiot?” For this week’s Suspension of the Rules, Kmele defends his position on AI deregulation as Ari channels some reader criticisms to him. Then, Isaac asks, “Am I the idiot?” over one of his recent takes and reacts to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent return to the Senate, before Kmele gives a touching tribute to the passing of a literary giant. Check it out here. Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here. We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice: Instagram Podcast YouTube You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of the EPA’s latest deregulatory move? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Thursday · 1 hr 19 min
Suspension of the rules. - Isaac, Kmele and Ari chat about the threat of artificial intelligence, Mitch McConnell's return and more.
On today's episode of Suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari and Kmele chat about whether or no artificial intelligence will kill us all and some reflection on Mitch McConnell's return to congress. They then play a fun little game called "Is Isaac an idiot or not?". Last but not least, a somber but very good grievance. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here. We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice: Instagram Podcast YouTube You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was hosted by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wednesday · 29 min
SCOTUS blocks mail-in voting changes.
On Monday, the Supreme Court denieda request from the Trump administration to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to carry out parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order placing new regulations on mail-in voting. The president had issued the order in March to address alleged voter fraud, and the Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s block on parts of the executive order in August. The Court’s most recent decision prevents the order from taking effect before the November midterm elections. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Is our food safe? If you’ve seen a rash of recent headlines about food recalls affecting an array of products, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with America’s food suppliers. In his latest report, Associate Producer Aidan Gorman explores what’s behind the recalls, whether they’re happening more frequently, and what the cases reveal about food safety in the U.S. Check it out here. We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice: Instagram Podcast YouTube You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of the Court’s decision? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tuesday · 31 min
AI leaders call for a slowdown.
On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) development is advancing at an unsafe pace and should be moderated. Executives at other leading AI companies endorsed Amodei’s post, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman saying “we need to pace the frontier.” In recent months, AI systems have allegedly hacked other companies’ platforms without their immediate knowledge, and former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon publicly resigned last week, citing the company’s purportedly insufficient AI-safety policies. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! We’re bad at this. Last week we had a team retreat. Something I realized while there is that we can do a better job making sure people know where to find us. Our core product is a newsletter, but we also have a podcast, YouTube channel, and Instagram page that all do incredible work covering the news with ideological diversity and intellectual honesty. So, here’s a reminder to take two minutes to follow us on your platform of choice: Instagram Podcast YouTube You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What’s the best path forward for AI development? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Kmele Foster and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monday · 26 min
Trump’s $5,000 dividend promise.
At the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said that his administration will send $5,000 to every U.S. adult citizen if the GOP retains control of the House and Senate in November’s elections. The president called the “Trump Dividend” a way for Americans to share in the economic strength that would result from Republican governance. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! 9/11 reflections. On Friday, we published a special reader mailbag reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and answering questions about what we’ve learned since that day. You can read it here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: When could the $5,000 payouts be sent? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 11 · 18 min
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition - Your questions about 9/11, answered.
What have we learned since that fateful day? Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! What happened to al-Qaeda? This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East and the state of al-Qaeda. Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke with Wood about the surprising information we’ve learned about Osama bin Laden’s motivations, why al-Qaeda has faltered, and whether U.S. policy has addressed the threat of future attacks. You can listen to the interview here Suspension of the Rules. This week’s edition of Suspension of the Rules is a little different, as Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have an in-person discussion from the Tangle team retreat in Maine. The conversation focused on two very different anniversaries: 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, and seven years since the founding of Tangle. What’s changed in the years since the attacks, and what keeps Isaac coming back to Tangle day after day? Check it out here. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul, Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Carina Pacheco and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 10 · 27 min
The latest on John Fetterman.
On Wednesday, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) appeared via video at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention, reiterating his opposition to socialism and praising Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). Fetterman has frequently criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialism and anti-Israel rhetoric, leading to speculation that he could switch parties or become an independent. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Suspension of the Rules. This week’s edition of Suspension of the Rules is a little different, as Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have an in-person discussion from the Tangle team retreat in Maine. The conversation focused on two very different anniversaries: 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, and seven years since the founding of Tangle. What’s changed in the years since the attacks, and what keeps Isaac coming back to Tangle day after day? Check it out here. What happened to al-Qaeda? This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East and the state of al-Qaeda. Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke with Wood about the surprising information we’ve learned about Osama bin Laden’s motivations, why al-Qaeda has faltered, and whether U.S. policy has addressed the threat of future attacks. You can listen to the interview here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: Will Fetterman leave the Democratic Party? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 10 · 1 hr 14 min
Suspension of the rules. - The Maine anniversary episode. Isaac, Ari and Kmele reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Tangle's 7 year anniversary.
On today's episode of suspension of the rules, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele are in the great state of Maine together to commemorate and reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and their own personal experience from 9/11. The guys then shift gears to a less somber note to celebrate Tangle's 7th anniversary and chat about where Tangle started and where its heading. Its a great episode! Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! What happened to al-Qaeda? This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East and the state of al-Qaeda. Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke with Wood about the surprising information we’ve learned about Osama bin Laden’s motivations, why al-Qaeda has faltered, and whether U.S. policy has addressed the threat of future attacks. You can listen to the interview here. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast is hosted by Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9 · 29 min
The August economic reports.
In the run-up to the November midterm elections, new reports on key economic indicators have shed light on the state of the U.S. economy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet next week for the third time under Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh to consider changes to the interest rate in light of a strong jobs report and persistent inflation. Meanwhile, the Iran war and a burgeoning trade dispute with Canada have added new variables to the economic picture. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! What happened to al-Qaeda? This Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ahead of the anniversary, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood published a detailed report on the attack’s impact on the Middle East and the state of al-Qaeda. Senior Editor Will Kaback spoke with Wood about the surprising information we’ve learned about Osama bin Laden’s motivations, why al-Qaeda has faltered, and whether U.S. policy has addressed the threat of future attacks. You can listen to the interview here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of Ari’s predictions? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9 · 13 min
PREVIEW: SPECIAL EDITION - What happened to al-Qaeda? Will Kaback interviews American journalist Graeme Wood.
It’s been nearly 25 years since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Virtually all of the leadership of al-Qaeda that planned and orchestrated the attacks have now been killed, but the group remains intact today. But if you talk to national security and terrorism experts, they’ll offer wildly different assessments of how strong — and how much of a threat — it still poses. Graeme Wood is a journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic who covers the Middle East, terrorism, and political Islam. Earlier this month, he published a piece in The Atlantic with a simple, provocative title: What happened to al-Qaeda? In it, Wood explores competing views of whether the organization was strategically brilliant, catastrophically incompetent, quietly resurgent, or simply no longer the force it once was. In this episode, Senior Editor Will Kaback explores this question with him — and dives into his thoughts on what al-Qaeda’s trajectory reveals about America’s response to terrorism, the unintended consequences of U.S. foreign policy, and the difficulty of knowing when a seemingly diminished threat is genuinely gone. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Should billionaires exist? In Friday’s members-only post, Isaac explored the question of whether billionaires should exist — and dove into generalizations about them all being evil. The piece has already garnered over 600 comments, a strong indication that you have your own opinions. You can read it (and join the conversation) here. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast hosted by: Will Kaback and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 8 · 30 min
The Army secretary resigns.
On Monday, August 31, The Wall Street Journal reported that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had resigned amid protracted disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Driscoll’s last workday was September 2. Several other military leaders have been fired or resigned under Hegseth, who has sought to reduce the size of military leadership. President Donald Trump appointed Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle to serve as acting secretary and did not give a timeline for nominating a replacement. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Should billionaires exist? In Friday’s members-only post, Isaac explored the question of whether billionaires should exist — and dove into generalizations about them all being evil. The piece has already garnered over 600 comments, a strong indication that you have your own opinions. You can read it (and join the conversation) here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: How do you feel about the United States’s overall military preparedness? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 4 · 7 min
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Not all billionaires are bad.
But should they exist? Let me start by saying that I get it. A few years ago, I read a fascinating piece about how professional basketball had lost its cool factor. The current stars of the NBA, like Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, just don’t have it. They aren’t charismatic in the same ways Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan or Dr. J were. They aren’t eccentric, or captivating, or culture-defining. “No aura,” as the kids say. Spend a few minutes watching Elon Musk work a room or Mark Zuckerberg testify before Congress, and it’s hard not to get a similar feeling. These guys do not exude aura. They don’t present as classy or high-minded or suave, which — frankly — is how we prefer our rich people. They are awkward and make bad jokes and laugh in uncomfortable ways. It at least feels like it was different before. The elites we grew up reading about operated in a classy manner, offered timeless wisdom or expressed humility when reflecting on their station in life. Andrew Carnegie was known for reciting poetry from memory, holding dinners where he’d debate Shakespeare and the merits of socialism, and waking his entire household with a bagpiper every morning. He’s credited with saying, “As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.” J.P. Morgan was famous for locking bankers in his library during the panic of 1907 and not letting them leave until they solved the crisis. He once said, “A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.” Elon Musk wielded a chainsaw while bragging about cuts to USAID, and once entered Twitter HQ during a hostile takeover while carrying a sink. He tweeted: “Entering Twitter HQ — let that sink in! ” These people are not the same. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a lot to talk about this week. From Kmele “having a moment” on CNN to mail-in voting changes to CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war — this week’s Suspension of the Rules is jam-packed. Watch it here. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 3 · 27 min
The data center pushback grows.
In recent months, opposition to data centers has increased across the United States, prompting both Republican and Democratic politicians to oppose the facilities and some states to pause new construction. While some political leaders, including President Donald Trump, remain supportive of data centers, the topic has become a major issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, often linked to concerns about societal disruptions brought on by artificial intelligence (AI). Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Suspension of the Rules. Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a lot to talk about this week. From Kmele “having a moment” on CNN to mail-in voting changes to CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war — this week’s Suspension of the Rules is jam-packed. Watch it here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: Do you think we should keep building data centers? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 3 · 1 hr 38 min
Suspension of the rules. - Kmele Foster blows up on the internet, Ari has a good guy of the week, Abdul El-Sayed, an inriguing whistle blower complaint and much more.
Isaac, Ari, and Kmele had a lot to talk about this week. From Kmele “having a moment” on CNN to mail-in voting changes to CBS’s coverage of Abdul El-Sayed — plus a good guy of the week from the Pacific Northwest and a brief check-in on the Iran war — this week’s Suspension of the Rules is jam-packed. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Get texts from us. The news cycle is heating up as we head into the midterms, and you can follow along with us every step of the way. On our SMS messaging service, we give readers exclusive opportunities to weigh in on our daily topics, access to behind-the-scenes peeks at our editorial process, and staff analysis of breaking news that doesn’t go to the newsletter. Share your questions. Next Friday, September 11, we’ll publish a mailbag edition answering reader questions about the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as broader questions about other timely news topics, under-the-radar issues, and anything else of interest. You can submit a question here for consideration. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast was hosted by Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 2 · 27 min
SCOTUS and the White House ballroom.
On Monday, the Supreme Court decided 5–4 to allow President Trump to continue above-ground construction on his White House ballroom project. The unsigned order pauses a federal judge’s halt on above-ground construction, stating the plaintiff likely lacks legal standing. However, the majority did not decide whether Trump has the legal authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval, and litigation will continue in lower courts. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Get texts from us. The news cycle is heating up as we head into the midterms, and you can follow along with us every step of the way. On our SMS messaging service, we give readers exclusive opportunities to weigh in on our daily topics, access to behind-the-scenes peeks at our editorial process, and staff analysis of breaking news that doesn’t go to the newsletter. Share your questions. Next Friday, September 11, we’ll publish a mailbag edition answering reader questions about the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as broader questions about other timely news topics, under-the-radar issues, and anything else of interest. You can submit a question here for consideration. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think about the legal and practical implications of this case? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Will Kaback and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 1 · 29 min
The U.S. oil deal with Venezuela.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to make the United States government an investor in the production of Venezuelan oil. Under the reported terms of the deal, the U.S. will take a stake in a private Venezuelan company that will be given the rights to develop 17 oil fields believed to contain 65 billion barrels of oil. President Trump said the deal will help build up U.S. oil reserves, bring down gas prices, and promote investment and production in Venezuela from other U.S. energy companies. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said the deal will economically benefit her country and revitalize its energy industry. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Share your questions. Next Friday, September 11, we’ll publish a mailbag edition answering reader questions about the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as broader questions about other timely news topics, under-the-radar issues, and anything else of interest. You can submit a question here for consideration. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: How do you feel about the practical and moral implications of this deal? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 31 · 29 min
CIA Director Ratcliffe’s trip to Russia.
On Tuesday, August 25, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the first publicly disclosed time to meet with Russian intelligence officials. While the CIA has not shared the official purpose of the trip, Ratcliffe reportedly cautioned Russia against attacking North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states. The visit also comes after four and a half years of war between Russia and Ukraine with little progress in peace discussions. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! Bring back shame? On Friday, Associate Editor Carina Pacheco explored the cultural shift toward “normalizing” behaviors once seen as weird or unacceptable. She wrote: I shudder to think of the mud that so many good, necessary emotions have been dragged through to get to the altar of normalization, chief among them shame and embarrassment... They form the bedrock of the shared norms and values that keep society functional. Varying degrees of risk-taking and independent decision-making — and failure — are essential to establishing character and creating the foundation of self-trust and resilience that everyone needs to truly grow. Check out Carina’s full essay here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: Will Putin attack a NATO country in the next two years? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 28 · 6 min
PREVIEW: The Friday Edition. - Have we no shame?
Against normalization culture. Dear readers, In this week’s Press Pass, I introduced our newest editor, Carina Pacheco. As I said in that newsletter, when Carina applied to work here, I was struck by her writing voice, the lens through which she sees the world, and her interest in the intersection of culture and politics. To me, she offered something distinct from the rest of the team. Today, I’m thrilled to share her debut Tangle essay, which is adapted from a piece she published in her newsletter.— Isaac Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! The latest Suspension of the Rules. Is decency back? Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss a fascinating gubernatorial candidate in Iowa and an interesting couple of moments from a Fox News anchor before Ari gets canceled in a highly aggrieved grievances section. Check it out here. All about Flock cameras. A few months ago, you may not have heard of them at all. Now, Flock cameras are everywhere — especially in Northern Virginia, where Associate Producer Aidan Gorman lives. In our latest YouTube video, Aidan takes a trip around his neighborhood and talks with law enforcement to investigate the reach and presence of Flock cameras. Check it out here. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Carina Pacheco and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75 and Jon Lall. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 27 · 29 min
The Meta settlement.
On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, reached a settlement with a group of state attorneys general to pay up to $16.7 billion to resolve a case over alleged harms to children caused by its social media apps. The company also agreed to implement safeguards designed to mitigate excessive use of Facebook and Instagram by minors. Ad-free podcasts are here! Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership! The latest Suspension of the Rules. Is decency back? Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss a fascinating gubernatorial candidate in Iowa and an interesting couple of moments from a Fox News anchor before Ari gets canceled in a highly aggrieved grievances section. Check it out here. All about Flock cameras. A few months ago, you may not have heard of them at all. Now, Flock cameras are everywhere — especially in Northern Virginia, where Associate Producer Aidan Gorman lives. In our latest YouTube video, Aidan takes a trip around his neighborhood and talks with law enforcement to investigate the reach and presence of Flock cameras. Check it out here. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠. You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What new safety measures will be most effective? Let us know. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall. This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Showing 1–20 of 38 episodes